SWEET SPOT
Dior’s blockbuster fragrance, Miss Dior, hits refresh with a sophisticated new spin on classic rose.
DIOR MASTER PERFUMER François Demachy was in lockdown at his home in the south of France last year when he was tasked with reimagining one of the brand’s most revered fragrances. “I was in Grasse and [Dior rose grower] Carole Biancalana showed me this beautiful rose she grew as adornment at her place … its perfume is extraordinary and this is what inspired me,” says Demachy. The aptly named ‘Sweet Love’ rose is a “spicier and more intense note” than the bloom at the heart of the original scent and became the starting point for Demachy to remaster Miss Dior.
“The rest of the process also happened during lockdown,” he continues. “I was sending my tests to marketing and top management in Paris from my lab in Grasse. Everybody was at home, so it was quite unique to work this way.”
The resulting fragrance is still Miss Dior at its heart, but with a sophisticated new spin. Sweet Love rose and Rose Centifolia – a Miss Dior hallmark – are blended with peach and apricot for a dash of sweetness, while Sri Lankan sandalwood “creates a beautiful link between all the notes”, says Demachy. On application, too, it continues to evolve. While it’s unmistakably floral, the new juice delivers a citrus twist that bursts into action on the pulse points.
If Demachy’s directive was to craft a scent that pays homage to the original, while presenting something new, then he’s succeeded. “This new Miss Dior is the same as before but growing and experiencing the beauties of nature,” he explains. “She is more mature, definitely, but still with a wild and cheeky spirit.” Or to paraphrase, she’s all grown up.